Irish artists make public statement at SXSW about their boycott of the festival 

“Sponsorship of the festival from defence contractors and those selling arms to destroy innocent lives is an act we find disgusting and reprehensible.”

The location was the Velveeta Room in Austin, Texas. A group of Irish artists, looking tired and drawn, but resolute in the choices they had made, took to the stage and stood in unison to explain their decision to boycott performing at the world’s largest music festival showcase, South By Southwest.

SXSW Palestine protest outside US Department of Defence. Copyright Ed Murphy

Members of Gurriers, Newdad, Chalk, Cardinals, Enola Gay and singer-songwriter Reevah stood together as a statement was read aloud on behalf of all the Irish musicians.

“To be clear, we as Music From Ireland bands, are not partaking in any official SXSW shows. We stand in complete solidarity with others who have spoken out and boycotted SXSW.

"The support given to us by Music From Ireland over the past few days has been immense. And on behalf of us here on stage, I want to extend our thanks to them for honouring and respecting our decisions and our artistic integrity.

"Sponsorship of the festival from defence contractors and those selling arms to destroy innocent lives is an act we find disgusting and reprehensible.

"We as Irish people have a lot of solidarity with the people of Palestine as we share a history of occupation and oppression by colonist countries.

"The Dunnes store strikes of July, 1984, to April, 1987, began when Mary Manning, a worker in Dunnes Stores on Henry Street, Dublin, was suspended for refusing to handle South African fruit in support of trade union policy which backed the international campaign to boycott the apartheid regime in South Africa. This one act triggered a blanket boycott in Ireland, which was mirrored worldwide. If we could all band together then and make a real change, we definitely can now.

SXSW Palestine protest outside US Department of Defence. Copyright Ed Murphy

"This situation is so much bigger than us as bands, it’s so much bigger than music, it’s so much bigger than art and politics. It’s genocide. The excuses given by South by Southwest have been pathetic. There’s no excuse for supporting the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

"We hope by taking this stand that this festival, and other festivals around the world, will rethink their sponsorship choices and who they choose to give a platform to, and to keep arms contractors out of the world of art and music.

"We call on all of you to stand up and make your voices heard. Silence in the face of oppression is siding with the oppressor.”